Improvement in clasps for box-covers



H. M. QUACKENBUSH. Clasp for Box-Covers.-

No. 217,146. Patented July'1, 1879.

Wv'bwssgs: I Invent 07? I I v Qzzac'le'nhzsk, 1%". flaw/$4M (7? amid. 30?.

N. PETERS, PHOTO-LITHOGRAPHER, WASHINGTON D C UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.-

HENRY M. QUAGKENBUSH, OF HERKIMER, NEW-YORK.

IMPROVEMENT IN CLASPS FOR BOX-COVERS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 217,146, dated July 1, 1879; application filed March 6, 1879.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, HENRY M. QUAOKEN- BUSH, of the town of Herkimer and Stateof New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Clasps for Box-Govers, of which the following is a specification.

The drawings accompanying the specification and illustrating my invention represent, in Figure 1, a perspective View, and in Fig. 2 a vertical section, of a box containing my invention.

In said drawings, A represents a box, of which B is the body, and G the cover; D, the upper portion, and E the lower portion, of the shield or escutcheon-plate, as it is generally called, such plate being of the form and for the purpose as now generally employed in fastenings of this character.

In carrying out my invention, I swage out at right angles from the outer lower edge of the upper portion, D, of the escutcheon-plate a horizontal outwardly-projecting lip or spur, a,- and to operate with this lip or spur I employ a catch, shown at b in the drawings as pivoted at its lower end to the outer lower part of the plate E, while the upper end or hook portion, 0, of the catchis adapted to ride over the spur a, and thereby lock the cover to the box. r

The curvature of the hook 0 should be such that its point drops somewhat in order to require a slight pressure to crowd it over the spur, in order to prevent easy separation of the two, and the end of the hook is provided with a thumbpiece or lip, d, which enables such hook to be easily secured or unfastened, and further serves to prevent injury to the spur a. should the latter project beyond the front face of the hook.

The length of the spur a may be varied; but in general it may be well to permit it to projectsomewhat beyond the outer face of the book, but notoutside of the thumb-piece cl of the latter. a

My object in making the spur a :as long as practicable is to permit of unequal expansion and contraction of the box and cover, or warping or twisting of the latter, without danger of separation of the spur and hook.

Heretofore in catches of this character a slight lateral change in the position of the two portions of the latch, owing to expansion and contraction or warping of the box and cover, results in their separation, and they do not engage each other. Furthermore, the material ofthe box must be cut away to receive the lock or catch.

With my catch or latch no danger of separation of the two portions exists, and I am not called upon to cut away any portion of the box or cover in applying it. It is stron durable, and easily and quickly applied.

I claim- A box latch or fastener consisting of the escutcheon 1), formed with a horizontally-projecting longitudinal lip, a, swaged out at right angles therefrom, and the escutcheon-plate E, carrying the pivoted hook 12, provided at its outer end with the flange or thumb-piece d, said parts being adapted for application to a box and for joint operation when so applied, substantially as shown and set forth.

HENRY M. oUAoKEnBUsH.

In presence of--- A. S. BRUSH, WM. S. PARKER. 

